Kaumātua have key leadership responsibilities within their communities and are crucial in curbing the spread of COVID-19. Yet kaumātua are also among the most vulnerable to the disease, given compromised health, living situations and reliance on whānau and others for care. Our study explored kaumātua concerns and reactions to COVID-19. We aimed to understand how kaumātua understand the tapu of the body and tikanga relevant to the spread of COVID-19. We are interested in how kaumātua navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19 in light of evolving advice and regulations regarding personal distancing, self-isolation and gatherings. We used digital technologies and cellphones to communicate with Ngātiwai and Waikato kaumātua on a regular basis over a six-week period. Drawing on rich kōrero from our first round of interviews we will share findings from the study to assist Māori communities, policy makers and health providers.

Kaitiakitanga, often translated simplistically and conveniently as ‘guardianship’ or ‘stewardship’ has in practice been intensely political - an urgent fight to stop the destruction and despoliation of sacred places and traditional food gathering sites.. Our Marsden-funded project on kaitiakitanga over harbours records the vision, strategy and hard work of Māori activists in protecting Aotearoa’s lands and waters, in the hope that we can learn from this history to clear the space in our legal and policy environment for kaitiakitanga, in its fullness, to be freely exercised. This paper journeys to four harbours – Kāwhia, Aotea, Manukau and Whāngārei - and through time, showing how kaitiaki have fought to protect and regain their authority to care for their harbours in the face of ongoing colonialism.